Journal-bearing protector



Dec. 10, 1929.. N. MILLER 1,739,407

JOURNAL BEARING PROTECTOR Filed April 28. 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 TTTTTT EY Dec. 10, 1929. M LER JOURNAL BEARING 'PRIG'EEICTQR 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed 'April 28. 1928 a Z. JVTJI i/ZZer INVENTOR ATTORNEY Patented Dec. 10, 1929 LEWIS N. MILLER,

: F JOURNAL-BEARING 'rnorno'ron' Application filed April 28,

This invention relates to journal boxes, and its general object is to provide a ournal bearing protector that prevents packing, waste or foreign matter from passing between the axle and bearing, but in no event does it interfere with the passage of oil about the axle or with the proper operation of the parts of the journal box under all working conditions.

A further obj ect of the invention is to provide a protector of the character set forth, that is applicable to the types of journal boxes now generally employed on all railroad cars without change to the boxes or any parts thereof.

Another object of the invention is to provide a journal box that can be applied in operative position or removed therefrom in an easy and expeditious manner with very little effort, and is simple in construction, inexpensive to manufacture and efiicient in operation and service.

This invention also consists in certain other features of construction and in the combination and arrangement of the several parts, to be hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings and specifically pointed out in the appended claims.

In describing my invention in detail, ref- .30 erence will be had to the accompanying drawings wherein like characters denote like or corresopnding parts throughout the several views, and in which:

Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view taken through a journal box of the usual construction and showing parts including my protec tor in side elevation.

Figure 2 is a sectional view taken approximately on line 22 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken approximately on line 83 of Figure 1.

Figure 4c is a perspective view of the protector per se.

Figure 5 is a view of one of the protector strips.

Referring to the drawings in detail, the letter A indicates the housing of a journal box of the usual construction, B an axle of a railroad car, C the journal box bearing, D the journal wedge and E the axle collar.

PATENT OFFICE or swam, QHIO 19cc; Seria1 No.278,-63-1.

The protector which forms the subject matter .of the present invention is provided with a body 1 which is preferably formed from sheet metal and has its upper portion formed to follow the shape of the top :of the journal bearing C and this upper portion is adaptedvto be received between the journal hearing :andjournal wedge as best shown in F igure 3 .of the drawings.

- Formed with the :lower edge of :the converging walls .of the upper portion, are the side walls 2 of the protector which are provided with substantially rectangular shaped openings?) to accommodate priojections extending laterally from :the journal ibearing as bestzsho-wn in Figures 1 and QQfit/he.drawings. These projections prevent the 'longi-, tllclinal movement rofthe protector and .coopcrating therewith is a tongue 4 extending from approximately midway the endsof the forward edge of the upper portion as shown in Figure A, and this {tongue 4 engages the forward :end of the journal bearing, while the rearward edge of theiupper portion :of the protector is disposed in contacting engagement with the flange formed on the inner end of ,the journal bearing as shown in Figure 1. By :th-isarrangement, it will :be obvious that the protector is held against longitudinal movement, and due to its transverse shape which conforms to the shape of the confrontin-g facesl'of the bearing and wedge, transverse movement of the protector will be prevented, with the result it is practically impossible for the protector to be casually moved from its operative position as shown.

Formed with the side walls at their lower edges is an inwardly inclined flange 5. These flanges 5 are disposed in converging relation with respect to each other and have secured thereto by rivets 6 or other suitable securing means non-metallic strips 7 which have formed therewith adjacent their edges as well as midway the ends thereof projections 8 having rounded corners 9 so as to prevent the protector from catching on the axle collar E when being disposed or removed with respect to the journal box.

The projections 8 are arranged in contacting engagement with the axle and are designed to prevent the passage of waste, packing, or foreign matter about the axle with the result, this material cannot accumulate between the bearing and axle. Notwithstanding the fact that my protector prevents the passage of the material as above set forth, it will not interfere with the proper lubri-- cation of the journal box as it will be ap parent that due to the space between the projections 8, oil can freely pass about the axle.

It is thought from the foregoing description that the advantages andnovel features of my invention will be readily apparent.

I desire it to be understood that I may make changes in the construction and in the combination and arrangement of the several parts, provided that such changes fall within the scope ofthe appended claims.

WhatIclaimis:

- '1. The combination with a journal box, of

a'protector for-the journal bearing thereof comprising a body formed from sheet metal and including an upper portion shaped to'follow the confronting faces of the-journal bearing and wedge of saidbox, side walls included inisaid body'and being disposedin parallelism with respect to each other, a flange for each side wall and the flanges being disposed in convergingv relation',i' non metallic strips securedflto said flanges, and projections formed with said strips and be ing adapted to be disposed in contacting engagement with the axle in the journal box; 2. A journal boxbearing protector of the character described comprising a body formed from sheet metal and including an upper portion adapted to be disposed between thejournal box bearing and its wedge, means to prevent longitudinal movement'of said 49 protector, said upper portion being" shaped to conform to the confronting faces of the bearing and wedge to prevent transverse movement of vsaid protector, non-metallic strips secured to said body and projections formed with'said stripsand having rounded corners. I

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

LEWIS N, MILLER. 

